Apparatus for controlling the opening movement of a vehicle door

ABSTRACT

An upwardly pivotable vehicle lid is provided with a pneumatic pressure strut intermediate body and lid, as an opening drive for the pivot movement into a terminal position having a maximum pivot angle, with the extending movement of a piston rod out of the pneumatic strut cylinder defining the pivot angle being limitable in a plurality of positions ahead of the maximally possible pivot angle by an arresting device mounted outside of the cylinder. The arresting device includes an arresting member positioned on the cylinder of the pneumatic pressure strut and movable into frictional engagement with a complementary member movable by the piston rod of the pneumatic strut.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is an application pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 371 of InternationalApplication PCT/DE95/01689 filed 30 Nov. 1995 published as WO96/17182Jun. 6, 1996.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention, in general, relates to an arresting device for apivotable lid of a vehicle and more particularly, to a deviceselectively limiting the extent to which a vehicular door may be opened.

It is commonly known to accomplish the opening movement of a vehiclelid, such as the lid of a trunk (boot) or hood (bonnet) by means of apneumatic pressure strut. A soon as the lid is unlatched it is pushedupwardly by the force of the pneumatic strut, until it has reached itsmaximum open terminal position.

A pneumatic pressure strut having a lever associated with it which isarrestable at various lengths at an arresting device is known fromGerman patent DE 43 02 502 C.. (as well as German laid-open patentspecification DE 43 06 882 A1). In the arrangements disclosed thereinthe piston rod of the pneumatic strut is concurrently maintained at thecorresponding extended positions. The lever extends in parallel to thepneumatic strut across the entire surface of the rear hatch and islatched by a complex centrifugal element when the hatch is manuallystopped during its upward pivoting movement. If it is not stopped inthis manner, the hatch will pivot upwardly to the full extensible lengthof the pneumatic strut.

In German utility model DE 89 15 891 U, there is described a pneumaticpressure strut having a sleeve pushed over its cylinder which sleeve mayreleasably be arrested on the cylinder in two positions. This does notaffect the length to which the piston rod may be extended.

The extension lever at one end of a pneumatic pressure strut describedin German laid-open patent specification DE 40 00 862 Al allows for butone additional open pivotal position of a rear hatch.

Changing in the length of a fully extended pneumatic pressure strut isalso known from German utility model DE 78 33 766 U and laid-open patentspecification DE 41 07 382 A1, in which the end of a piston rod isslidable in a connecting threaded sleeve with either the piston rod orthe threaded sleeve having to be rotated, and following adjustment,further rotation has to be prevented. This does not provide for a simpleway of arresting in different positions.

From German patent DE 25 55 062 C3 an arresting device for the rearhatch of a vehicle is known which includes a pneumatic pressure strut,the piston of which may be arrested at different extended positionsrelative to the length of a cylinder, thus maintaining the rear hatch indifferent open positions. For this purpose, the usual piston of a commonpneumatic strut has been altered in a complex manner by the addition tothe piston, within the cylinder, of a force-actuated latching member,for controlling the latching. For this type of application, the use ofcommercially available pneumatic pressure struts at vehicle rear hatchesis then no longer possible.

Changing the angular disposition of a hatch moved by a pneumatic strutby means of a telescoping tube extendible from a cylinder is known fromGerman laid-open specification 32 25 974 A1.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to make an arresting device in which apiston rod may be arrested at the cylinder by simple means and wherebyan unintentional excessive pivotal opening movement of the rear hatchmay be prevented.

The arresting device in accordance with the invention makes possiblemovement of different lengths of the piston rod of a pneumatic pressurestrut for stopping a vehicle hatch, when necessary, before it hasreached its maximum open angular disposition. For this purpose, acommercially available and, therefore, inexpensive pneumatic strut maybe utilized. The frictional connection of an arresting member arrangedon the cylinder to a complementary member movable with the piston rodleads to a simple and, therefore, economic structure which because ofits small size does not interfere with the vehicle hatch. In themanually actuable version, the vehicle hatch is stopped before reachingits maximum opening angle and may be moved into its maximum openingposition in a controlled manner by a person deliberately applying agreater force. In a sensor controlled version, the lid is stopped at areduced angular disposition when a wall or other object comes too closeto the edge of the pivoting vehicle hatch, thus preventing it from beingdamaged. In such an arrangement, a person not wanting the largestopening, because he would have difficulties moving the hatch down again,for instance, could prevent the maximum pivotal opening by affecting thesensor.

The arresting member and the complementary member required for thefrictional connection may be arranged for sliding movement at differentpositions of the strut cylinder and the piston rod, respectively, sothat the maximum values of the arresting positions may be adjustablealong the axis of the strut cylinder and accomodate the structure of thevehicle. The frictional connection of arresting member and complementarymember is simplified by affixing the complementary member opposite thearresting member on a tube which embraces the strut cylinder at apredetermined spacing therefrom. In fact, the frictional connection maybe established by the interior surface of the tube acting as thecomplementary member.

A frictional connection between the arresting and complementary membermay be provided by two corrugated tubes which move into engagement witheach other at different positions of the piston rod and initially stopthe movement of the piston rod. Thereafter, extending the piston rodfurther, up to its maximum, becomes possible only with greater force andby the resilient yielding of at least one of the corrugated tubes. Theincreasing overlap of the corrugated tubes or the increasing number ofratcheting interlocks, as the case may be, leads to a noticeableincrease of the force necessary for movement into the terminal position.The increase in actuation force signals to a user that the greatestpivot angle of the vehicle lid is approaching.

The frictional engagement between the arresting member and thecomplementary member may also be established by sliding one of themembers in the direction of the other. In such an arrangement a positiveabutment or a frictional abutment may be provided. This movement of themembers toward each other may be accomplished by simple components, suchas a spring or a magnet, or by a valve-controlled filling of aninflatable body. A sensor may be positioned at the hatch of the vehiclewhich, as an edge of the hatch approaches a stationary obstacle, forinstance, initiates this movement to bring about timely stopping of thevehicle hatch. Also, a switch may be provided at the handle of a vehiclehatch for arresting or releasing movement of the hatch. Such a switchmay for instance also be, actuated by the sensor as a hand of a userapproaches the handle.

Further advantages and embodiments are set forth in the subclaims and inthe description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to a drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts the rear of a vehicle with a rear hatch pivoted andarrested by a pneumatic pressure strut, in two different positions;

FIG. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of an arresting devicecomprising corrugated tubes which may be brought into frictionalengagement with each other;

FIG. 3 is a view in longitudinal section of a sensor-controlledarresting device utilizing frictional engagement;

FIG. 4 depicts a further embodiment of an arresting device utilizingfrictional engagement; and

FIG. 5 depicts an arresting device provided with an inflatable anddeflatable body for establishing frictional engagement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows an arresting device 1 for a pivotable vehicle lid 2, shownas a rear hatch. The arresting device 1 is provided with a pneumaticpressure strut 3 extending between a body 4 of a vehicle shown onlypartially and the rear hatch 2 thereof, and providing a drive motor forthe opening pivotal movement of the hatch 2 up to a terminal position ata maximum pivot angle shown in dashed lines. As usual, the pneumaticstrut 3 is provided with a cylinder 5 as well as a piston slidablymovable therein and also with a piston rod 6. As shown, the free end ofthe cylinder 5 is pivotally connected to the rear hatch 2, and the freeend of the piston rod 6 is pivotally connected to the body 4. Uponrelease of a trunk lock, the rear hatch 2 is automatically pivotedupwardly by the pneumatic pressure strut 3 by the increased gas pressurein the cylinder section driving the piston, thus extending the pistonrod 6. To prevent sudden or abrupt pivoting of the hatch 2 into itsterminal position which may cause it to collide with an obstacle, suchas the ceiling of a garage, the arresting device 1 mounted outside ofthe cylinder 5 of the pneumatic strut limits the extension of the pistonrod 6 defining the pivot angle to several positions before ahead of themaximally possible pivot angle is reached, as depicted by the rear hatch2 shown in solid line.

To achieve a compact structure near the pneumatic strut 3 and as shownin greater detail in the ensuing figures, an arresting member 7 (7', 7")of the arresting device 1 is positioned adjacent to the cylinder 5 ofthe pneumatic strut 3 and may be moved into frictional engagement with acomplementary member 8 (8', 8") which is movable by the piston rod 6.The complementary member 8 is arranged within a tube 9 which is mountedon the piston rod 6 and embraces the cylinder 5 of the pneumatic strut.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2 which depicts the structure of the arrestingdevice of FIG. 1 in greater detail (rotated by 180 degrees), a tubulararresting member 7' is affixed to the cylinder 5. The tubular member 7'is provided with a corrugated outer surface portion 10 extending in thedirection of the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, and thecomplementary member 8' is provided with matching corrugations formed ina surface portion 11 of the tube 9. As the piston rod 6 is moved out ofthe cylinder 5 of the pneumatic strut the tube 9 moves with it and, byits surface portion 11 will move into engagement with the corrugatedsurface section 10 thus interrupting further outward movement. Only byuse of greater force, such as an upward push of the rear hatch 2 by auser, may the complementary member 8' be pulled further over thearresting member 7', snapping or ratcheting into the respective oppositecorrugations as it moves over the arresting member 7'. To limit theforce required for the contining movement, the surface portion 11 in thetube 9 will resiliently yield. Depending upon the number of abutments orcorrugations in the complementary surface portions 10 and 11, it ispossible. The rear hatch 2 may be arrested in as many different angularpositions as there are abutments or corrugations in the complementarysurface portions 10 and 11. The terminal position with the largest pivotangle and greatest frictional overlap of the surface portions 10 and 11is attainable by moving the arresting member 7' relative to the cylinder5. To this end, the arresting member 7' may be threadedly 12,13connected to the cylinder 5 the cylinder to facilitate its rotation and,hence, axial displacement arresting member 7' is provided with a sleeve14 extending in the direction of the free end of the cylinder 5 out ofthe tube 9 where it is knurled, as shown at 15 After adjustment, thearresting member 7' will self-lock. By moving the arresting member 7' tothe left as seen in the drawing, the extending movement of the pistonrod 6 would terminate sooner, thus leading to a smaller pivot angle ofthe rear hatch 2. Adjusting the maximum desired pivot angle of the rearhatch would also be possible, of course by similary connecting thecomplementary member 8' on the piston rod 6.

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 depict arresting devices 1 in which arresting members7" are associated with the cylinder 5 of the pneumatic pressure strut,and in which a tube 9 and the complementary arresting member 8" areaffixed to the piston rod 6. The piston rod 6 may in these embodimentsbe arrested by frictional engagement of an arresting member 7" which isprovided with a power-driven frictional breading surface.

FIG. 3 depicts an arresting device 1 in which the cylinder 5 of thepneumatic strut is provided with a power-driver arresting member 7" itincludes a stationary chuck 16 and a movable chuck 18 connected to thestationary chuck 16 by tension springs 17. Between them, the chucks 16and 18 form a conical recess 19 in which is seated an expander chuck orsunk provided with a conical 21 bottom 20 matching the conical recessbetween the chucks 16 and 18. The surface of the chuck 21 opposite thecone 20 constitutes a frictional surface 22 which may be moved into forengagement with a complementary frictional surface 23 provided at theinterior wall of the tube 9. In their normal state, the chuck 16 and themovable chuck 18, bias, the expander chuck 21 against direction of thecomplementary frictional surface 23 in the tube 9, thus setting thelength to which the piston rod 6 can be extended. In order to move thepiston rod 6, a switch 24 has to be actuated to close an electriccircuit for energizing a solenoid 25 which, in turn, attracts themovable chuck 18 and pulls it away from the stationary chuck 16. Thiscauses the conical recess to become wider and the expander chuck 21 tomove out of its engagement with frictional surface 23, thus no longerblocking movement of the tube 9 and the piston rod 6. The circuit may bedesigned in such a manner that a sensor 26 (FIG. 1) positioned at therear hatch 2 and connected in parallel to the switch 24 as is well knowncauses the circuit to open when an obstacle approaches, to deenergizethe solensid 25 action. This causes the expander chuck 21 and itsfrictional surface 22 to be moved against the complementary frictionalsurface 23 in the tube 9 and the extending movement of the piston rod 6to be arrested. Furthermore, the switch 24 could be designed to beswitched by an actuator in the handle of the rear hatch 2 or be replacedor supplemented by from a sensor, responding to the hand of a userapproaches the handle. Such a circuit could also be the rear hatchagainst burglaries whenever current or the engine of the vehicle isturned off, by forcibly arresting the piston rod of the cylinder of thepneumatic strut.

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment similar to the one of FIG. 3, with thearresting member 7" on the pneumatic strut cylinder 5 being providedwith a frictional component 27 biased into engagement with acomplementary frictional surface 23 by a pressure spring 28. The spring28 may be retracted from the complementary frictional surface 23 by asolenoid 25, thus allowing the tube 9 and the piston rod 6 to move andthe rear hatch to pivot.

FIG. 5 depicts a structure of the arresting device 1 in which thearresting member 7" is an inflatable body 29 attached to the cylinder 5of the pneumatic strut and which, for arresting the tube 9 and thepiston rod 6, may be filled with a fluid to increase its circumferencefor engagement with the tube 9, thus frictionally preventing furthermovement thereof. A valve 30 is provided at the input of the inflatablebody 29. By a motor 31 actuated by a switch 24, the valve 30 in one ofits settings cause the body 29 to be inflated , and in another settingit causes it to be deflated. Here, too, a sensor 26 may be provided inaddition to the switch 24.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for controlling the opening movementof a door hinged to the body of a vehicle, comprising:first and secondelongate members adapted to be respectively pivotally connected to thedoor and the body and telescopingly movable relative to each otherbetween a first length at which the door is closely adjacent to the bodyand a second length at which the door is pivoted away from the body to amaximum; means on the exterior of one of the first and second elongatemembers for generating friction; means on the interior of the other ofthe first and second elongate members for engaging the frictiongenerating means before the first and second elongate members reach thesecond length thereby limiting opening movement of the door to less thanthe maximum.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the first andsecond elongate members is the cylinder and the other of the first andsecond members is the piston-driven rod of a gas strut.
 3. The apparatusof claim 2, wherein the friction generating and engaging means comprisesmeans for forming a substantially resilient surface having a pluralityof axially disposed complementary male and female undulationist.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 3, wherein the resilient surface forming meanscomprises tubular means provided with corrugated axial portions.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 4, wherein the position of at least one of thefriction generating and the engaging means is axially adjustablerelative to the first and second elongate members.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 6, wherein at least one of the friction generating and engagingmeans is threadedly connected to one of the first and second elongatemembers.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the friction generatingmeans comprises a member having a frictional front surface movablesubstantially normal to at least one of the first and second elongatemembers and the engaging means comprises a friction surface on the otherof the first and second elongate members opposite the friction frontsurface member.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the friction frontsurface member comprises resilient means for biasing the friction frontsurface into engagement with the friction surface and solenoid means forselectively moving the friction front surface out of engagement with thefriction surface.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the solenoidmeans comprises a conical recess driveable between first and secondwidths and wherein the friction front surface means comprises a conicalsection seated in the conical recess.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8,wherein the solenoid means comprises annular coil means and wherein thefriction front surface means comprises a plunger of the solenoid means.11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the solenoid means is energizableby manually actuable switch means.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11,wherein the switch means comprises proximity sensor means.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 11, wherein the switch means is provided withparallel connected proximity sensor means.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the friction generating means comprises selectively inflatablemeans mounted on one of the first and second elongate means.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 14, wherein the selectively inflatable means isprovided with valve means moveable by a motor into a first state forinflating the inflatable means and into a second state for deflating theinflatable means.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the motor isenergizable by manually actuable switch means.
 17. The apparatus ofclaim 16, wherein the switch means is provided with parallel connectedproximity sensor means.